Diabetic Eye Disease Often Has No Early Symptoms. A Kitsilano Optometrist Explains Why Screening Matters
Vancouver, Canada - October 8, 2026 / Dr. Della Chow | Optometrist /
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Oct. 8, 2026 — On World Sight Day 2026, Dr. Della Chow, OD, a Kitsilano optometrist, is calling attention to accessible preventive eye care, pointing to condition-specific screening, including diabetic eye exams, as a way to detect damage before noticeable vision loss occurs.
World Sight Day Puts a Global Spotlight on Eye Care Access
World Sight Day falls on October 8 each year, and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) describes the 2026 observance as an important milestone toward eye care for all, arriving ahead of the first-ever Global Summit for Eye Health in November 2026. "Building the momentum needed to deliver lasting change to end avoidable sight loss" is how Simon Darvill, IAPB's Director of Communications, Campaigns and Events, has described the goal of the day. The campaign calls on governments and health systems to prioritize eye care so people can access it before problems become severe — a principle that also applies at the level of an individual routine exam.
"World Sight Day is a reminder that a lot of vision loss is preventable if it's caught early enough," said Dr. Della Chow, OD, who has served Kitsilano for more than two decades. "That's true globally, and it's just as true in a neighbourhood practice."
Diabetic Eye Exams Show How Early Detection Works
A diabetic eye exam is one example of the condition-specific screening Dr. Chow points to. Diabetes Canada notes that all people with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, are at risk of diabetic retinopathy, in which high blood sugar causes retinal blood vessels to swell and leak, and that the condition often goes unnoticed until vision loss occurs. Per Diabetes Canada's Clinical Practice Guidelines, with blood glucose control, regular eye exams and early treatment, the risk of eye damage or its worsening can be reduced. Dr. Chow's exams for patients with diabetes combine a dilated retinal exam with retinal imaging to track changes over time, screening for diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema, along with the higher risk of cataracts and glaucoma that comes with diabetes. The same principle applies to changes patients can see for themselves: grey spots on the eye are often harmless, but any spot that grows, changes colour, or comes with pain or vision changes is worth having examined.
"Diabetic eye disease is one of the leading causes of vision loss in working-age adults in Canada, and much of it is preventable with early detection," Dr. Della Chow said. "A diabetic eye exam doesn't take the place of managing blood sugar, but it catches the changes a patient can't see or feel yet."
For adults aged 19 to 64, an eye exam is a BC Medical Services Plan benefit when it is medically required, and diabetes is one of the listed qualifying conditions. Dr. Della Chow and her team are welcoming new and returning patients for exams around World Sight Day on October 8, including appointments for patients managing diabetes.
About Dr. Della Chow | Optometrist
Dr. Della Chow | Optometrist has served Kitsilano for more than two decades, offering comprehensive and condition-specific eye care led by Dr. Della Chow, OD. In addition to routine and children's eye exams, the practice offers eye exams for patients managing diabetes, along with contact lens fittings and designer eyewear. The practice accepts BC's Medical Services Plan and most extended health plans and is located at 2589 W Broadway in Kitsilano, Vancouver.
Contact Information:
Dr. Della Chow | Optometrist
2589 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V6K 2E9
Canada
Della Chow
+1 778-743-7499
https://drdellaoptometry.com/
